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Office work isn’t usually associated with dangers – after all, what’s the worst that can happen to someone working on a computer all day? While office workers don’t face the same dangers that factory and construction workers do, the work environment is still rife with hazards thanks to slippery floors, malfunctioning equipment, and poor lifting techniques.

Besides these issues, there are also security risks. Criminals, customers, and even employees can make an office unsafe. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate these risks and make the workplace a happy place to be.

There are many ways to prevent accidents and injuries and keep your office running smoothly. Here are safety tips that all employers and their employees should be aware of.

Choosing the right home security is an essential task that puts you on solid footing. These days, you have no shortage of companies from which to choose. What matters is that you understand what you’re buying and that the business you purchase from will be there for you. In a sense, you’re selecting a partner to help you reduce crime and fire damage. That’s why you need to pick the best. There’s too much on the line to go with home security companies with poor reputations.

The chances are good that you’ve worked long and hard to acquire all of your assets and belongings, so you don’t want to make the mistake of choosing a security company that doesn’t offer a stellar reputation, expertise, and high-level of customer service to fulfill your individual home security requirements. Further, the company should be knowledgeable and be able to answer all of your questions.

When it comes to home security, there is no better feeling than having peace of mind knowing that your investment is getting protected from theft and other potentially dangerous situations.

In the commercial security business, there are two types of people who buy commercial security services. Those are individuals who are taking proactive actions to guard against invasions and property loss, and those who have already experienced the pain and loss of these circumstances.

Regardless of whether you are taking aggressive steps to safeguard your belongings before an incident occurs or you’re a recovering from an incident, here are some helpful tips to help you choose a security company that’s right for you.

Does the Security Company Offer a Free Assessment?

As you can imagine, every security deployment is unique. The best commercial security companies offer a free assessment to determine the costs associated with installing and monitoring your security system. Further, their representatives should be able to make recommendations for the services to help home and business owners meet their security objectives.

In some cases, they may even make suggestions that you can implement yourself to increase safety and security at your property. Things they might suggest could include keeping bushes and hedges trimmed, reinforcing your existing lock system, fortifying door jams, and securing accessible windows. By working with you directly, they can make more accurate suggestions for securing your business.

You may have heard of the term “access control,” but what exactly does it mean? Access control is a broad term that refers to the security of doors and alarm systems. These services allow companies to monitor and restrict entry into a specific area.

Door access control systems can keep inventory safe, secure intellectual property, and limit and restrict access to personnel. Property and employees are protected, and burglars are deterred, resulting in increased safety. With door access control systems, employers can track activity, reduce the risk of theft, and protect assets.

Door access control is used in a variety of industries, including banking, education, finance, government, healthcare, religious services, industrial, life sciences, military, retail, utilities, and commercial buildings. Nearly every business can benefit from the use of a door access control system to boost security and increase peace of mind.

How Does It Work?

Door access control systems operate off of an electronic locking device. This device can be placed on an interior or exterior door. In order to enter the building or room, the user must present the appropriate credential – most likely a key card. The key card is swiped on a card swipe reader or placed over a card reader. In some cases, a code may be required, which means that the user will be prompted to enter the correct code on a keypad.

Card readers are recommended for areas that require a high level of security. For example, rooms that have money, collectibles, or other highly sought-after assets will benefit from card readers. Readers are also good choices in areas where you’ll have to re-key the lock often. Cards are easy to program, so, if there is a lot of turnover at your company, card readers are ideal.

Door access control systems use what is called a controller. Controllers tend to operate around 32 control points, but larger ones can handle more. While each controller has its own software, a server runs the master software. Some servers may run hundreds of controllers. If there are several buildings, each one may have its own server.

Besides allowing and restricting access, door access control systems can be used with video and alarm systems so you can see who is entering a building and view any event that would cause the alarm to sound.

Features depend on the system you choose, but most can print badges, deactivate cards, and replace lost ones. You can also manage cardholders and specific areas, which is helpful if you lose or gain employees or if a current employee loses or gains access to a certain area.

Fire security is not a fascinating subject for many people. Most days, the thought of a fire sweeping through your business doesn’t cross your mind. However, fires can and do happen all the time. Mitigating this threat is a fantastic idea, and it is one that helps you save substantially on your business insurance.

Not only is a business fire terrifying, but the dollar amount of damages are also often incredible! Even though you may feel it’s not likely you’ll experience your office burning; it’s a savvy move to insure against it.

Zoning Often Requires Fire Protection

Almost all businesses need fire alarms due to zoning regulations. That’s a minimum starting point in the battle against blazes. However, it’s worth considering the benefits of installing an entire fire security system. Compliance is a great reason to investigate how security monitoring and alert systems help your business.

The key is to purchase a system that handles all inevitabilities, and which is installed and monitored by professionals. Even though alarms and fire extinguishers are present at most businesses, they are inadequate for protecting the premises. They’re a start, but prepare yourself to go further to implement an effective program of fire prevention.

Fire Protection Brings Numerous Benefits

There is a slew of advantages for being active about fire protection. Certainly, your employees will appreciate your concern for their safety. That makes it easier to attract and retain talent! Not only that, but your insurance premiums will reflect your commitment to compliance.

Adding a sprinkler system has long been proven effective at controlling fires. You may not be able to prevent every blaze, but alerting the fire department and putting on the sprinklers can stop them from getting out of control. Any steps taken to prevent a fire from spreading are necessary. Once a fire takes root, it becomes nearly impossible to stop.

Systems Keep Getting Better and Better

Whether you own or rent your property, utility bills are unavoidable. These bills usually include charges for electricity, gas, water, sewer, etc. While some renters get to have their utilities “included,” this is because the monthly rental fee is higher. In 2010, Americans spent almost 5% of their income on utilities, with the average monthly utility spending hitting $197.00.

For many people, these numbers tend to decrease and fluctuate, depending on the season, the tenants, what kind of sewer system they have, etc. While some get away with spending pennies for their utilities, others get hit hard. If you’re trying to cut back on your utility bills, there are some ways to lower the charges. Here are 7 creative ways to save on utility bills

1. Weather Stripping

If you’ve noticed cold drafts in certain parts of your home, it’s a good idea to pay attention to them and find out where they’re coming from. These little drafts and small areas for air to escape and come in will do a number to your utility bills; sadly, this is a quick fix that many people don’t bother with.

If you’re not sure how to weather strip, fear not. The process is very easy and inexpensive, which means you can weather strip to your heart’s content.

2. Real-Time Adjustments with Security Systems

Gone are the days of forgetting to turn down the heat or leaving a light on for too long. If you need an easier way to manage your home, some of the best alarm monitoring systems are equipped with controllers to give you more access to your home from the kitchen or across the world.

Spending too much on your heating bill? Use your iPad or phone to turn down the temperature once you’re at work. Did someone leave their bedroom light on? Turn it off at the touch of a button. Smart security systems are now giving us the opportunity to not only protect our homes but to save on bills as well. This option is great for providing peace of mind and a little extra cash at the end of the month.

3. Low-Flow Shower Heads

When you are the owner of any kind of business or establishment, your main priority is always going to be protecting the people and possessions within it; however, choosing security for your business is not quite the same process as choosing security for your home. Generally speaking, there will be employees at your office during the day, and it will likely remain unoccupied after work hours.

They do remain similar in one aspect, though: Just like homeowners, no business owner wants to hear that they’ve been broken into or that someone has been hurt on their premises, so it’s important to invest in security tactics that will ensure the safety of everyone and everything.

If you’re trying to decide on a security system, it won’t be a one and done task. There are quite a few options available to you, and you’ll want to take into account quite a few things before installing any model you come across. To help you make the best decision for your property, follow along with these considerations when choosing a commercial wireless entry system.

Size of the Building

This aspect is really quite simple: The bigger your commercial space, the more protection you’re going to need. That includes factors like the size of the floor plan, the number of floors, access to outside, etc. Smaller buildings will have fewer entries and spaces to worry about, but the more space you have, the greater the chance for forced entry, unforeseen dangers, etc.

If you have a spacious building, you might want to consider investing in a high-level intrusion detection system, especially if you have various entryways into the building. Intrusion detection systems can recognize unwanted intrusions with the fastest response time based on a unique audio detection system.

Similarly, a larger building with more doorways may need to invest in multiple video surveillance cameras in order to cover all of the angles, parking lots, and alleyways.

When it comes to your home, there are likely some very important people living within it, or, at least, some very prized possessions. Protecting our homes is a very important part of being a homeowner, and it’s a great idea to look into your options for protection if you haven’t done so already.

For many people, a home security system is the best defense against burglars, damage, and loss. However, not everyone is sure that this is the best way to go. Likely, homeowners have considered other options, such as guard dogs, fake alarm signs, and motion-sensor lights. While all of these options may have some advantages, home security systems are, without a doubt, the best tool for protection.

There are a few common misconceptions about home security that have people undecided about investing in one. If you want to learn more, consider these misconceptions and what’s really going on.

They’re Too Expensive

Anything worth having is likely going to cost you a little bit at the beginning. It’s no surprise that you will have a larger bill for the installation of your security system, and that you will be expected to pay monthly bills in order to keep it in service.

If you’re wondering how much Americans spend on security systems, the answer was roughly $20 billion in 2011. For one homeowner, a start-up for their system will cost anywhere from $600-$1200, but some companies may offer sales or promotions for less. After that, monthly bills can be expected to sit between $15-$100, with the average price sitting around $30.

At the end of the day, paying $30 per month will cost you less than it does to order fancy coffees each morning. Even though the initial costs will be more expensive, there are a lot of reliable, experienced security system companies which can offer you an individualized package of features that suit your unique needs. Even if you’re able to avoid a theft or fire one time, it’s likely that the cost of your system will be worth every penny.

Charleston, South Carolina was founded in the year 1670 and is often remembered by visitors for its bustling, cobblestone streets, waterfront views, and historic buildings. The city was home to more than 130,000 residents in 2013, and it’s a popular location for students who want to attend great programs at Charleston Southern University and the College of Charleston.

While it may have many perks, Charleston, SC certainly has had its fair share of problems with crime in the past. Since 2012, there have been quite a few drastic changes to the crime rates experienced in the area, which begs the question of whether or not this city has turned itself around for good or not.

To learn more, consider the information provided about Charleston, SC patterns in local property crime.

Charleston Property Crime Patterns

Charleston, SC went through quite a rough patch, in terms of crime, more than a decade ago. In 2002, it was reported that there were more than 6,000 property crime incidents in Charleston per 100,000 inhabitants, and that the violent crime index was a little over 800 in the same year.

Since 2001, property crime rates have been decreasing yearly, with one small blip in 2008 when rates rose for the year. In comparison, violent crimes began to increase after 2002, with 2004 being the worst year for violent crime before things started slowing down again.

In 2002, the property crime rate was lower in Charleston than the national average, by 4.58%, and the violent crime rate was also lower by a whopping 38.32%. Overall, from the year 2004-2013, Charleston had been experiencing a decrease in both property and violent crime acts. It is believed that the crime rate in 2017 will be lower than it was in 2012 when it sat at just over 200 crimes per 1,000 people.

The Best and Worst Places in Charleston, SC

Based on the size of Charleston, the city sits in the middle of the pack in comparison to the crime rates of other cities of the same size. In more recent reports about the safety of Charleston, SC, it is explained that the rate of property crime is 26 per 1,000 people, which means that the likelihood of being a part of property crime happens to 1 in every 38 residents.

However, Charleston was ranked 13th in a list of the 30 safest places to live in South Carolina in 2015. This was based on a violent crime rate that was less than half the national average, as well as Charleston’s safety record and improved public safety.

Some of the safest neighborhoods in Charleston include Harbor View Road/Clearview Drive, Parrot Point/Oceanview, and the City Center. These areas are likely safer areas because they are more geared toward tourists and are often very busy and filled with people. These areas are also some of the more well-off areas in Charleston, so these areas are cleaner, more well-kept, and less prone to violent and property crime like the surrounding areas.

Some of the least safe areas in Charleston include Ashley Hall Road/Sandcroft Drive, Dupont Station/Pinecrest, and Race Street/King Street.

So, you’ve done the research, you’ve chosen your alarm system, and everything is now installed. Congratulations! Your home is now that much safer from theft, damage, and loss. Now that it’s set up, it’s time to start thinking about how you can ensure that you’re working alongside the system to reap the most benefits.

If you’ve invested in a system to keep your home safe, now is the time to starting considering the best practices for using your Sonitrol Home Security System.

Always Set the Alarm

Even when you’re home, it’s a great idea to set your alarm. There are options for “Stay” settings, which will alert you if any doors or windows are opened while you’re at home. This kind of option is ideal at night, but it doesn’t hurt to have it on during the day when you’re not expecting anyone. This is especially important since the most common time for burglaries takes place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when most people are at work.